Pouring container

Abstract

To provide a pouring container that makes easy for the movable valve plug to return from the closed position to the initial position by reducing the resistance it receives from the content liquid.SOLUTION: A movable valve plug 40 of a pouring container 1 has a curved portion 41 provided at the end of the outlet 23 side, a tapered portion 42 that tapers to the initial position side, and a continuous portion 43 that connects the curved and tapered portions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispensing container.

Background Art

[0002] In a squeeze-type dispensing container, when the body is squeezed and the moving valve body in the initial position moves to the closing position in the cylindrical body, a certain amount of the content liquid is discharged. Then, when the moving valve body moves to the closing position and closes the discharge port, the discharge of the liquid stops. On the other hand, when the squeezing is released, air replacement occurs, and at the same time, the moving valve body returns to the initial position by buoyancy.

[0003] Therefore, a squeeze-type dispensing container enables continuous discharge. As the moving valve body, spherical or columnar ones shown in Patent Document 1 below are known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the above spherical or columnar moving valve bodies, when the content liquid has high viscosity, after the squeezing is released and the valve body returns from the closing position to the initial position, the moving valve body receives resistance from the content liquid and cannot move smoothly, taking time to return to the initial position, which may result in the inability to perform continuous discharge.

[0006] As a result of intensive efforts in order to solve the above problems, the inventors of the present invention have come up with the dispensing container of the present invention.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing container that reduces the resistance received from the content liquid when the moving valve body returns from the closed position to the initial position after the squeeze is released, and is easily returned to the initial position.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

[0009] (1) A container body that includes a squeezable body and a cylindrical mouth portion continuous with the body portion and is capable of accommodating a content liquid, A cap portion that includes a spout through which the content liquid can be dispensed and is attached to the mouth portion, A middle plug that is provided inside the container body and held by the mouth portion, The middle plug is A cylindrical body that extends in the same direction as the extending direction of the container body, A discharge portion provided on the mouth portion side of the cylindrical body, A moving valve body that is movable in the extending direction inside the cylindrical body, The moving valve body is configured to be movable in the axial direction of the cylindrical body as the body portion is squeezed from an initial position farthest from the spout to a closed position closest to the spout, The moving valve body is configured to open the flow path of the content liquid to the spout at the initial position and close the flow path of the content liquid at the closed position, The moving valve body is A curved portion provided at the end portion on the spout side, A tapered portion provided in a tapered shape on the initial position side, A dispensing container having a continuous portion connecting the curved portion and the tapered portion.

[0010] (2) The dispensing container according to (1), wherein the maximum diameter and the bottom diameter of the moving valve body are larger than the hole diameter of the discharge portion, and the maximum diameter of the moving valve body is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body.

[0011] (3) The pouring container according to (1) or (2), wherein the continuous portion is curved so as to curve inward in the radial direction of the container body.

[0012] (4) The pouring container according to (1) or (2), wherein the continuous portion is linear.

[0013] (5) The pouring container according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the cylindrical body of the stopper has a slit formed along the extending direction.

[0014] (6) The pouring container according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein a pouring valve body having a slit valve structure is disposed at the pouring outlet.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the above-described pouring container, since the moving valve body has a curved portion provided at the end on the pouring outlet side, a tapered portion provided in a tapered shape on the initial position side, and a continuous portion connecting the curved portion and the tapered portion, when the moving valve body returns from the closed position to the initial position, the resistance received from the content liquid can be reduced, and it can be easily returned to the initial position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. The dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may be different from the actual ratios.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a pouring container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a cap portion 20 of the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing the cap portion 20 of the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a front sectional view showing an inner stopper 30 of the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a bottom view showing the inner stopper 30 of the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a pressing portion 50 that supports a moving valve body 40 of the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a front sectional view showing the pressing portion 50 of the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a front view showing the moving valve body 40 of the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9 is a front view showing a moving valve body 140 according to a modified example. FIG. 10 is a front sectional view showing a state where the moving valve body 40 of the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment is in an initial position. FIG. 11 is a front sectional view showing a state where the moving valve body 40 of the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment is in a closed position. FIG. 12 is a front sectional view showing a state where the moving valve body 40 of the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment moves from the closed position to the initial position. FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 7 correspond to views when the pouring outlet 23 faces upward, and FIGS. 8 to 12 correspond to views when the drawing of FIG. 1 is inverted vertically and the pouring outlet 23 faces downward.

[0019] The pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment stores a concentrated type of laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment includes a container body 10 capable of storing a content liquid, a cap portion 20 attached to the container body 10, an inner stopper 30 provided inside the container body 10, a pressing portion 50 attached to the inner stopper 30, and a pouring valve body 60 attached to a pouring outlet 23 of the cap portion 20.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the container body 10 has a squeezable body portion 11, a cylindrical mouth portion 12 continuous with the body portion 11, and a bottom portion (not shown) that closes the lower end portion of the body portion 11. The container body 10 has a so-called bottle shape.

[0021] On the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 12, as shown in FIG. 1, a male screw portion 12a is formed. The male screw portion 12a of the mouth portion 12 is screwed with a female screw portion 21a attached to the inner peripheral surface of the first outer peripheral wall 21 of the cap portion 20 described later, whereby the cap portion 20 is attached to the container body 10.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cap portion 20 includes a first outer peripheral wall 21 disposed on the outer periphery of the mouth portion 12 of the container body 10, a second outer peripheral wall 22 located inside the first outer peripheral wall 21, and an upper wall 24 in which a spout 23 through which the content liquid can be poured is formed. As described above, a female screw portion 21a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first outer peripheral wall 21.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the first outer peripheral wall 21 and the second outer peripheral wall 22 are configured to sandwich the mouth portion 12 of the container body 10.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, near the center of the upper wall 24, a cylindrical tube portion 25 rising upward is provided, and the opening of the tube portion 25 forms the spout 23. A spout valve body 60 is fitted and held in the spout 23.

[0025] The cap portion 20 is configured such that the content liquid is not poured out externally unintentionally by being covered with a lid (not shown).

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the middle stopper 30 includes a cylindrical body 31 extending in the vertical direction, a discharge portion 32 provided on the spout 23 side of the cylindrical body 31, and a movable valve body 40 movable in the vertical direction inside the cylindrical body 31.

[0027] The cylindrical body 31 is disposed inside the mouth portion 12. The cylindrical body 31 has a top wall 37 and an extending portion 33 that is continuous with the top wall 37 and extends in the vertical direction. Near the center of the top wall 37, a cylindrical tube portion 35 rising upward is provided, and the opening of the tube portion 35 forms the discharge portion 32.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, four extension portions 33 are provided along the circumferential direction when viewed from below. Although FIG. 5 shows an example of four, the number is not limited thereto, and two to eight are also possible. Since a gap 33S is formed between each of the extension portions 33, when the moving valve body 40 returns from the closed position to the initial position, the content liquid is replenished into the inner plug 30 through the gap 33S.

[0029] The detailed configuration of the moving valve body 40 will be described later.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the pressing portion 50 is fixed below the extension portion 33 of the inner plug 30. The fixing method of the pressing portion 50 to the extension portion 33 is not particularly limited, but for example, it is a fitting. Note that it is not limited thereto, and there are also fixing methods such as screwing and using an adhesive.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the pressing portion 50 is provided with a U-shaped cross-sectional shape 51 extending in the circumferential direction so as to sandwich the extension portion 33. The pressing portion 50 has an opening 52 inside.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing valve body 60 has a so-called slit valve structure having a cylindrical base portion 61 and a valve body portion 62 extending inward from the upper end portion of the base portion 61. The valve body portion 62 is configured to be openable and closable by elastic deformation. The valve body portion 62 is closed in the state before squeezing shown in FIG. 10, and when squeezed, it opens due to the pressure of the content liquid flowing from the internal space of the inner plug 30 into the discharge port 23 of the cap portion 20, and when the squeezing to the body portion 11 is released, it returns to the original state (closes) by the restoring force. By providing the dispensing valve body 60 in this way, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in a state where the discharge port 23 of the dispensing container 1 is inclined so that the lower side is down, it is possible to preferably prevent leakage of the content liquid in a state where it is not squeezed.

[0033] Next, the configuration of the moving valve body 40 will be described in detail.

[0034] The movable valve body 40 is configured to be axially movable in the cylindrical body 31 as the body portion 11 is squeezed, from the initial position farthest from the pouring outlet 23 shown in FIG. 10 to the closing position closest to the pouring outlet 23 shown in FIG. 11. Further, the movable valve body 40 is configured to open the flow path of the content liquid to the pouring outlet 23 at the initial position and close the flow path of the content liquid at the closing position.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the movable valve body 40 has a curved portion 41 provided at the end of the pouring outlet 23, a tapered portion 42 provided in a tapered shape on the initial position side, and a continuous portion 43 connecting the curved portion 41 and the tapered portion 42. The movable valve body 40 has a so-called teardrop shape.

[0036] The curved portion 41 is configured to be a part of a substantially spherical shape. The diameter of the curved portion 41 (the same as the maximum diameter D1 of the movable valve body 40: see FIG. 1) is not particularly limited, but is preferably 8 to 30 mm, more preferably 10 to 25 mm, and for example, 19 mm. As shown in FIG. 1, the tapered portion 42 has a tapered shape that tapers toward the pressing portion 50 side. The diameter of the tapered portion 42 is not particularly limited, but can be 1 to 10 mm, and is preferably 1 mm.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the continuous portion 43 of the movable valve body 40 according to the present embodiment is configured to be curved so as to curve inward in the radial direction of the container body 10. The radius of the continuous portion 43 is not particularly limited, but can be preferably 3 to 50 mm, more preferably 10 to 40 mm, and for example, 30 mm. According to this configuration, since the shape of the tapered portion 42 can be tapered more than the configuration in which the continuous portion 143 shown in FIG. 9 is linearly configured, when the movable valve body returns from the closing position to the initial position, the resistance received by the movable valve body 40 from the content liquid can be reduced, and it can be easily returned to the initial position. Note that the configuration in which the continuous portion 143 shown in FIG. 9 is linear is also included in the present invention. When the continuous portion 143 is linear, the structure can be simplified and the manufacturing becomes easy.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 1, the maximum diameter D1 of the movable valve body 40 and the bottom diameter (the diameter of the portion in contact with the discharge portion 32) are larger than the hole diameter of the discharge portion 32. Further, the maximum diameter D1 of the movable valve body 40 is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 31. According to this configuration, the movable valve body 40 can suitably move inside the cylindrical body 31, and it is possible to surely prevent the movable valve body 40 from coming out of the discharge portion 32.

[0039] Also, as shown in Fig. 1, the maximum diameter D1 of the movable valve body 40 is larger than the hole diameter of the opening 52 of the pressing portion 50. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the movable valve body 40 from jumping out of the pressing portion 50.

[0040] The height of the movable valve body 40 is not particularly limited, but can be 20 to 40 mm, for example, 30 mm. Further, in Fig. 8, the length L1 from the center P of the curved portion 41 to the lower end of the curved portion 41 is not particularly limited, but can be 5 to 15 mm, for example, 9.5 mm. The length L2 from the center P of the curved portion 41 to the upper end of the tapered portion 42 is not particularly limited, but can be 15 to 25 mm, for example, 20.5 mm. Thus, by making the length L2 from the center P of the curved portion 41 to the upper end of the tapered portion 42 longer than the length L1 from the center P of the curved portion 41 to the lower end of the curved portion 41 in Fig. 8, the tapered portion 42 can be formed in a tapered shape. Therefore, when the movable valve body 40 returns from the closed position to the initial position, the resistance received by the movable valve body 40 from the content liquid can be reduced, and it can easily return to the initial position.

[0041] Next, with reference to Figs. 10 to 12, the discharging method of the discharging container 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0042] First, the user turns the discharging container 1 upside down to the state shown in Fig. 10. At this time, the movable valve body 40 is arranged at the initial position near the pressing portion 50 by buoyancy. When using the discharging container 1, it may be in an inclined posture instead of being turned upside down.

[0043] Next, when the body portion 11 is squeezed, the content liquid flows into the inside of the cylindrical body 31 through the cylindrical body 31 of the middle plug 30 and the opening 52 of the pressing portion 50, and the moving valve body 40 is pressed toward the discharge portion 32 side and moved from the initial position to the closed position shown in FIG. 11.

[0044] While the moving valve body 40 is moving to the closed position, the content liquid is discharged from the discharge portion 32, and the valve body portion 62 of the pouring valve body 60 is opened by the pressure of the discharged content liquid, and the content liquid is poured out.

[0045] Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the moving valve body 40 reaches the closed position, the pouring of the content liquid stops. Then, when the squeezing of the body portion 11 is released, the internal space of the main body container 10 becomes negative pressure, and the air flowing in from the valve body portion 62 of the pouring valve body 60 and the buoyancy generated on the moving valve body 40 by the content liquid flowing in from the gap 33S of the cylindrical body 31 are combined to push up the moving valve body 40. As shown in FIG. 12, the moving valve body 40 moves from the closed position to the initial position.

[0046] Here, for example, when the moving valve body is spherical or cylindrical, in the case of a highly viscous content liquid, after the squeezing is released, the moving valve body receives resistance from the content liquid and cannot move smoothly, and it takes time to return to the initial position, and there is a possibility that continuous discharge cannot be performed.

[0047] On the other hand, since the moving valve body 40 of the pouring container 1 according to the present embodiment has a so-called teardrop shape, it is possible to reduce the resistance received from the content liquid when the moving valve body 40 returns from the closed position to the initial position and make it easier to return to the initial position.

[0048] By the above steps, every time the body portion 11 is squeezed, the content liquid can be poured out in a substantially constant amount each time.

[0049] As described above, the dispensing container 1 according to the present embodiment includes a squeezable body portion 11 and a cylindrical mouth portion 12 continuous with the body portion 11, and has a container body 10 capable of accommodating a content liquid, a cap portion 20 attached to the mouth portion 12, and a middle plug 30 provided inside the container body 10 and held by the mouth portion 12. The middle plug 30 has a cylindrical body 31 extending in the same direction as the extending direction in which the container body 10 extends, a discharge portion 32 provided on the mouth portion 12 side of the cylindrical body 31, and a movable valve body 40 movable in the extending direction inside the cylindrical body 31. The movable valve body 40 is configured to be movable in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 31 as the body portion 11 is squeezed, from an initial position farthest from the discharge port 23 to a closing position closest to the discharge port 23. The movable valve body 40 is configured to open the flow path of the content liquid to the discharge port 23 at the initial position and close the flow path of the content liquid at the closing position. The movable valve body 40 has a curved portion 41 provided at the end of the discharge port 23, a tapered portion 42 provided in a tapered shape on the initial position side, and a continuous portion 43 connecting the curved portion 41 and the tapered portion 42. According to the dispensing container 1 configured in this way, when the movable valve body 40 returns from the closing position to the initial position, the resistance received from the content liquid can be reduced, making it easier to return to the initial position.

[0050] Further, the maximum diameter D1 and the bottom diameter of the movable valve body 40 are larger than the hole diameter of the discharge portion 32, and the maximum diameter D1 of the movable valve body 40 is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 31. According to the dispensing container 1 configured in this way, the movable valve body 40 can move suitably inside the cylindrical body 31, and it is possible to surely prevent the movable valve body 40 from coming out of the discharge portion 32.

[0051] Further, the continuous portion 43 is configured to be curved so as to curve inward in the radial direction of the container body 10. According to the dispensing container 1 configured in this way, since the shape of the tapered portion 42 can be made tapered more than in the configuration where the continuous portion 143 shown in FIG. 9 is configured linearly, the resistance received by the movable valve body 40 from the content liquid can be reduced, making it easier to return to the initial position.

[0052] In addition, the continuous portion 143 is linearly configured. According to the dispensing container 1 configured in this way, the structure of the moving valve body 140 becomes simple and the manufacturing becomes easy.

[0053] Further, a gap 33S is formed in the cylindrical body 31 of the inner stopper 30 along the extending direction. According to the dispensing container 1 configured in this way, when the moving valve body 40 returns from the closed position to the initial position, in the space of the cylindrical body 31 on the tapered portion 42 side of the moving valve body 40 (the upper side of the moving valve body 40 in FIG. 12), the content liquid in the cylindrical body 31 is pushed out through the gap 33S, and in the space of the cylindrical body 31 on the curved portion 41 side of the moving valve body 40 (the lower side of the moving valve body 40 in FIG. 12), the content liquid is sucked into the cylindrical body 31 through the gap 33S. Therefore, it can be preferably moved to the initial position.

[0054] In addition, a dispensing valve body 60 having a slit valve structure is arranged at the dispensing port 23. According to the dispensing container 1 configured in this way, in a state where the dispensing port 23 of the dispensing container 1 is tilted downward, it is possible to preferably prevent the leakage of the content liquid in a non-squeezed state.

[0055] <Example> The effects of the present invention will be described using the following examples and comparative examples. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0056] As Example 1, a moving valve body having the shape shown in FIG. 8 was prepared. As Example 2, a moving valve body having the shape shown in FIG. 9 was prepared. As Comparative Example 1, a spherical moving valve body was prepared. As Comparative Example 2, a conical moving valve body was prepared. As Comparative Example 3, a cylindrical moving valve body was prepared. As the material, all were made of polypropylene (specific gravity: 0.877 g / cm 3 )). And each moving valve body was installed in the dispensing container.

[0057] <Return time and usability test of the moving valve body> Using the pouring containers containing the moving valve bodies according to the examples and comparative examples (full filling volume: about 600 ml. The material is an oval-shaped PET container), discharge was performed, and the time from when the squeezing was released until the moving valve body returned to the initial position was measured. Also, a usability test was conducted (n = 9) to determine whether continuous discharge was possible. As the content liquid, NANOX (a liquid detergent for clothing manufactured by Lion Corporation, stored at room temperature of 25°C for 1 day, viscosity at 25°C after storage: 180 mPa·s) was used, and the filling amount was 400 g. The discharge amount was 10 g per time.

[0058] As evaluation results, in Example 1, the return time was 1.9 seconds and the usability test was ○. In Example 2, the return time was 2.3 seconds and the usability test was ○. In Comparative Example 1, the return time was 3.7 seconds and the usability test was ×. In Comparative Example 2, the return time was 2.2 seconds and the usability test was ○. In Comparative Example 3, the return time was 3.8 seconds and the usability test was ×.

[0059] From the above results, it was confirmed that the teardrop shape and the conical shape return to the initial position faster than the spherical shape. This is presumably because, when rising, the acute angle leads to a reduction in resistance from the liquid. Regarding the cylindrical shape, it was confirmed that the return time is even slower than that of the spherical shape. This is presumably because the cross-sectional shape increases, resulting in an increase in the resistance received from the liquid and an increase in the sliding resistance.

[0060] <Regarding the liquid sealing property of the moving valve> Next, for each moving valve body, it was confirmed what percentage of liquid sealing failure occurred in 10 discharge operations. Here, liquid sealing failure refers to the phenomenon that the pouring of the liquid does not stop even when the moving valve body is in the closed position.

[0061] As evaluation results, in Example 1, the liquid sealing failure occurrence rate was 0%, in Example 2, the liquid sealing failure occurrence rate was 0%, in Comparative Example 1, the liquid sealing failure occurrence rate was 0%, in Comparative Example 2, the liquid sealing failure occurrence rate was 30%, and in Comparative Example 3, the liquid sealing failure occurrence rate was 10%.

[0062] When a conical or cylindrical moving valve is used, the liquid may not stop even after squeezing and the moving valve has descended. That is, the moving valve body does not block the discharge part, resulting in a liquid seal failure. As a cause of this, axial play occurs in the moving valve when it is squeezed and the moving valve body descends. As a result, a gap is generated between the bottom surface part of the moving valve body and the discharge part, and it is considered that a liquid seal failure has occurred. On the other hand, in the tear-drop shapes of Example 1 and Example 2, even when axial play occurs, since the curved part is not a flat surface, the discharge part can be blocked and no seal failure is observed.

[0063] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

[0064] In the above-described embodiments, as long as it is a pouring container configured to squeeze and move the moving valve body from the initial position to the closed position, the configuration other than the moving valve body is not limited to the above-described configuration.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0065] 1 Pouring container, 10 Container main body, 11 Body part, 12 Mouth part, 20 Cap part, 23 Pouring outlet, 30 Inner stopper, 31 Cylindrical body, 32 Discharge part, 33S Gap, 40 Moving valve body, 41 Curved part, 42 Tapered part, 43 Continuous part, 60 Pouring valve body.

Claims

1. A container body having a squeezable body portion and a cylindrical mouth portion continuous with the body portion and capable of accommodating a content liquid, A cap portion having a spout for pouring out the content liquid and attached to the mouth portion, And a middle plug provided inside the container body and held by the mouth portion. The middle plug A cylindrical body extending in the same direction as the extending direction in which the container body extends, A discharge portion provided on the mouth portion side of the cylindrical body, Inside the cylindrical body, a movable valve body movable in the extending direction, The movable valve body is configured to be movable in the axial direction of the cylindrical body as the body portion is squeezed, from an initial position farthest from the spout to a closed position closest to the spout. The movable valve body is configured to open the flow path of the content liquid to the spout at the initial position and close the flow path of the content liquid at the closed position. The movable valve body A curved portion provided at the end on the spout side, A tapered portion provided in a tapered shape on the initial position side, And a continuous portion connecting the curved portion and the tapered portion.

2. The maximum diameter and the bottom diameter of the movable valve body are larger than the aperture diameter of the discharge portion, and the maximum diameter of the movable valve body is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body. The pouring container according to claim 1.

3. The continuous portion is configured to be curved so as to curve inward in the radial direction of the container body. The pouring container according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The continuous portion is configured to be linear. The pouring container according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The injection container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a gap is formed along the extending direction in the cylindrical body of the middle plug.

6. The injection container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an injection valve body having a slit valve structure is disposed at the injection port.

Images